Boat trailer



, Sept 10, 1957 v H. E. GREEN BOAT TRAILER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 16, 1955 j 1 N 3 \N \I H WN ilk I \N Q Q V l h h mh mu w mw INVENTOR p 0, 1957 H. E. GREEN 2,805,786

BOAT TRAILER Filed Sept. 16, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Hug/2E. Gre en ATTORNEYS 0, 1957 H. E. GREEN 2,8055786 BOAT TRAILER Filed Sept. 16, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Hu h/Eflreert ATTORNEYS BOAT TRAILER Hugh E. Green, Rome, Ga.

Application September 16, 1955, Serial No. 534,704

7 Claims. (Cl. 214505) This invention relates to trailers for carrying small boats, such as outboard motor boats and the like.

One object of the invention is to provide improved means for launching a boat from the trailer into the water or recovering it therefrom, or for unloading a boat onto land or loading it onto the trailer therefrom.

Another object is to provide tilting cradle means adapted to support the rear portion of a boat in transit, and to tilt with the boat in launching and recovery, so as to prevent the boat from tilting too far to either side during the launching and recovery thereof.

Another object is to provide a lift roller adjacent said tilting cradle means for lifting a boat slightly above said tilting cradle means so that said boat may be slid over said tilting cradle means for launching and recovering said boat.

Another object is to provide a roller at the rear end of said trailer for helping to guide and support said boat during launching and recovery thereof, said roller being on a depressed portion of said trailer and at a level well below said cradle means and said lift roller, so as to provide support for said boat at steep angles of launching and recovery, and to provide guiding means for the nose of a boat at the last moment of launching and at the first moment of recovery.

Another object is to provide an improved form of roller for engaging the keel and centering the boat on the trailer.

Another object is to provide convenient additional boatsupport means on said trailer forward of said tilting cradle means, including one or more support rollers and an adjustable nose chock of novel construction.

Another object is to provide improved means for adjusting the lift and support rollers to adapt the trailer to boats having different hull shapes.

Another object is to provide an improved boat trailer which has means whereby one man can launch a boat therefrom and replace it thereon.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the appended drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a boat trailer made in accordance with my invention;

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the same;

Figure 3 is a side elevation of the same showing a boat supported thereon, said boat trailer being hitched to the rear of an automobile, of which only a fragmentary part is shown;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section to enlarged scale, taken along line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary section to enlarged scale, taken along line 55 of Figure 3, fragmentary portions Ff the overlying support structure being shown in broken mes;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section to enlarged scale taken along line 6-6 of Figure 1;

nited States Patent 0 ice Figure 7 is a fragmentary section taken along line 7-7 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary section to enlarged scale taken along line 8-8 of Figure 1;

Figures 9 and 10 are fragmentary side elevations of said boat trailer illustrating intermediate positions of a boat during launching or recovery from a sloping beach; and

Figures 11 and 12 are similar views illustrating launching or recovery from a low, flat bank.

In the drawings, wherein like characters indicate the same or similar parts, there is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention comprising a boat trailer, generally designated 20, having an elongate frame 21 suitably supported under its rear portion by an axle 22 mounting ground engaging wheels. Frame 21 includes a forwardly extending member 23 having a member 24 extending downwardly therefrom adjacent the forward end for engaging the ground to support the forward end of said frame when said trailer is not connected to a towing vehicle, and a tow connection 25 at its forward extremity for connection with a towing vehicle, indicated at 26.

Upstanding from each side of frame 21 proximate the rear thereof is a pair of lugs 27 supporting a pivot bolt 28. The pivot bolts 28 are in alinement with each other on a cradle axis 2930 which is horizontal and transverse to frame 21. Pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on each pivot bolt 28 is an elongate boat support member 31. Members 31 are free to tilt about axis 2930 within limits imposed by the structure of supporting frame 21, as may be seen by referring to Figures 1 and 3. It will be noted that members 31 may tilt only slightly in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 3 before coming up against frame 21, but that they may tilt much more in a counter-clockwise direction, due to the fact that frame 21 has a depressed rear portion 41. The pair of pivoted, elongated boat support members 3131 constitutes tilting cradle means for supporting the rear portion of a boat as illustrated in Figure 3 and for tilting rearwardly as illustrated in Figures 10 and 12, tilting with the boat as it is launched or recovered and preventing the boat from tilting too far to either lateral side.

Rotatably mounted on the center line of frame 21 forward of tilting cradle means 31-31 is a boat support roller 32. Farther forward along the center line of frame 21 there is mounted another rotatable boat support roller 33.

Extending upwardly from the forward portion of member 23 is a standard 34. Fixedly mounted to standard 34 as by welding is a longitudinal tube 35. Slidably mounted in tube 35 is a rod 36. On the rear end of rod 36 there is fixed a nose chock 37 of suitable shape to engage the nose of a boat 40 as illustrated in Figure 3. Threadedly mounted in a boss welded to tube 35 and extending through said tube is a stud 38 which provides convenient means for clamping rod 36 in a selected position to engage the chock 37 with the nose of boat 49.

As best seen in Figure 3, frame 21 has a depressed portion 41 at the rear thereof. Rotatably mounted at the extreme rear end of depressed portion 41 is a rear roller 42, the purpose of which will be explained below.

Rollers 33, 32, 46, and 42 preferably are spool-shaped as shown for reasons explained below, but may be of plain cylindrical configuration. Preferably, they are rubber-covered.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 4, frame 21 has a transverse member 43 joining the side members of said frame. Surrounding a portion of member 43 and rotatably mounted thereon is a rotatable member 44.

3. Fixed to member 44 and extending rearwardly and upwardly therefrom is a pair of arms 45-45 between the" outer ends of whichis rotatably mounted a lift roller 46.

Referring. to Figures 4 and. 5, means is provided, for raising and lowering" lift roller 46 betw'e'eii the positions illustrated in Figure 4 at 46. and 46". 'I'li eposition" indicated'in full lines at 46" is the. lower position of the roller, and the position illustrated iri'brbken'lin'e's at 46' is its upper position. Extending downwardly from to tatable member 44is a lift arm 47'. Pivotally connected at 48 to the lower end of arm 47 is" a rod 49 which extends rearwardly. Pivotally connected to the rearen'd' of rod 49 at 50 is a lever 51. Lever, 51 is also p'ivotally connected at its fulcrum 52 to a lug 53 whichflis' rigidly attached to frame 21. In Figur'e'j, lever 51' is shown in the. position it occupies when lift .roller 46 is in the lower position 46 illustrated in'full lines in Figure 4. By swinging lever. 51 approximately 90 degrees in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Figure 5, lift roller 46 is raised to the position illustrated in broken lines at-46" in Figure 4.

As illustrated in Figure 4, means is provided for adjusting the height of lift roller 46 and the throw of arms 45, said throw determining the distance between the illustrated low and high positions 46 and 46", respectively, of roller 46. Lift arm 47 has a plurality of holes 47a, and rod 49 has a plurality of holes 49a. Pivot piii 48 may be placed selectively in any combination of holes 47a and 49a. It will be apparent that a shift of pin 48 from one hole 49a to another hole 49a will primarily change the positions of arms 45 and roller 46, and that a shift of pin 48 from one hole 47a to another hole 47a will primarily change the amountof the throw of arms 45 and roller 46. There are, of course, secondary effects so that each combination of holes gives a different combined adjustment of roller height and roller throw.

Preferably, additional means shown in Figures 1 and 4 is provided for adjusting the height of roller 46 for any rotated position of rotatable member, 44. Each arm 45 is made in two parts, a pair of short arms 45a constituting one part, the inner ends of these parts being welded to member 44, and the outer part being an outer short arm 45b, the inner end of which is clamped between, the outer ends of inner members 45a by means of a lock bolt 450. It may be seen from Figure 4 that arm 45b may be rotated about lock bolt 45c to adjust the vertical height of roller 46 for a given fixed position of rotatable member 44. Thus, the height of roller 46 may be adjusted to adapt the boat trailer to the configuration of different boats, particularly to the variation in distance of the bottom of the keel below the fiat bottom surfaces of the hull which rest upon boat support members 31. Thus, the arms 45 of lift roller 46 are adjustable so that the actual positions illustrated in Figure 4 at 46' and 46" may be adjusted upwardly or downwardly. In practice, these arms are adjusted so that in its upper position roller 46 lifts the rear of boat 40 slightly off the tilting cradle members 31. If the bottom of the keel of the boat extends much below the bottom of the hull on either side of the keel, lift roller 46 would not actually have to project above the top of cradle members 31 in order to lift the boat above the cradle members. In some cases, however, a satisfactory adjustment is such as illustrated in Figure 4, wherein the lift roller in its upper position 46 projects slightly above the top of tilting cradle members 31.

Means is provided for adjusting the height of roller 32, as illustrated in Figure 6, to bring roller 32 into position such as illustrated in Figure 3 to support the keel of boat 40. A pair of brackets 32a, slotted as at 3%, support the pivot bolt 32c upon which roller 32 is rotatably mounted. Studs 32d, threadedly mounted in a transverse member 39 of frame 21 provide means for adjusting the height of roller 32.

It will be observed from- Figure 4 that rotatable member 44 and tilt roller 46 are located close to transverse cradle axis 29-'-30 as indicated by pivot bolt 28. The proximity of lift roller 46 to the cradle axis 29--30 about which boat support members 31 freely pivot permits the coaction of lift roller 46 and boat support mem bers 31 which is an important feature of my invention, and this coaction facilitates the launching and recovery of the boat as described below.

Rollers 42, 46, 32, and 33 are preferably rubber covered and of the spool like configuration shown in Figure 6, with a central portion 57 of relatively small diameter and of a width to snugly accommodate keel 40k, between surfaces 58 which taper outwardly and upwardly to cylindrical portions 59 which are of substantially larger diameter. These spool-shaped rollers serve to guide the keel and thereby center the boat in recovery as well as in launching. However, plain cylindrical rollers may be used, particularly for boats having keels which are fiushwith tliebEttoin of the hull. The spoolshaped rolle'r's also may be' used for boats having fiat keels; i. e., keels whicliare substantially flush with the bottom of the hull, the boat in this case simply resting on the roller surfaces 59.

A winch 54 mounted on top of standard 34, and a cable 55 wound on the reel of said winch and fastened to the stem of boat 40 provides means for hauling said boat onto the boat trailer and easingit out when launching it under the force of gravity as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10. V

The operation of my boat trailer during launching and recovery of a boat therefrom may best be understood by reference to Figures 9 through 12 inclusive. Figures 9 and 10 illustrate two successive positions in launching a boat from the trailer on a sloping beach. Lever 51 is moved clockwise from its position illustrated in Figure 5 throughits full throw of about degrees, thereby raising lift roller 46 to raise the boat slightly off boat support members 31. Cable 55 is eased out by winch 54, and the boat moves rearwardly under the influence of gravity, supported by lift roller 46 and by boat support rollers 33, 32, or 42, depending upon the longitudinal position of the boat with respect to the trailer and the position of its center of gravity with respect to lift roller .46. Tilting boat support members 31 on either side, prevent the boat from tilting to either lateral side too far. During launching, the boat moves rearwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 9, then farther rearwardly to the position illustrated in Figure 10. Beyond the position illustrated in, Figure 10, the bow of the boat rolls downwardly over roller 46 until it is partially supported by rear roller 42, and further rearward motion of the boat permits the bow to roll downwardly into the water off rear roller 42. During the movement of the boat to the rear of the position illustrated in Figure 10, boat support members 31 are free to tilt about the cradle axis 29-30. Because lift roller 46 is in close proximity to cradle axis 2930, boat support members 31 are in position to prevent the boat from tilting too far to either, lateral side throughout all positions of the boat during launching and recovery. I

Sometimes the beach is not as steep as illustrated in Figures 9 and 10, and it may even be necessary to launch the boat with the frame of the trailer in a substantially horizontal position, such as illustrated in Figures 11' and 12. In this situation the boat may be pushed rearwardly by hand until its center of gravity passes over lift roller 46, which first has been raised as indicated in Figure 11. As soon as the center of gravity of the boat passes the roller 46, the boat tilts rearwardly until the keel rests on rear roller 42. At the same time, boat support members 31 tilt rearwardly as illustrated in Figure 12, and are in position to prevent the boat from tilting to either lateral side too far. In this connection, Figures 11 and 1 2 illustrate the boat' as notbeing tilted to either lateral side. Normally, however; unless the keel is flat with the bottom of the hull or the hull on each side of the keel rests on raised roller portions 59, the boat will tilt to one side or the other until it rests on one of the boat support members 31, and this will continue until the stern of the boat is sufficiently supported by the water to bring it to an upright position laterally. From the position illustrated in Figure 12, the boat moves rearwardly over rollers 46 and/or 42 until the bow is lowered over rear roller 42 to floating position.

The recovery operation is simply the reverse of the launching operation. The winch is used to haul the boat first up over rear roller 42, then over lift roller 46, which is in the raised position, boat support members 31 tilting to follow the movement of the boat and give lateral support thereto against tilting too far. When the preferred spool-shaped rollers are used they center the keel on the longitudinal centerline of the trailer. The boat is hauled forward until it is against nose chock 37, when lever 51 is moved clockwise to the position illustrated in Figure 5, thereby lowering lift roller 46 so that boat 40 is lowered onto support members 31 in the position illustrated in Figure 3.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have provided an improved boat trailer which facilitates launching and recovery of a boat, which may be adjusted very easily to accommodate boats having various hull configurations, and which has novel tilting boat cradle means coacting with a single lift roller, and other novel features. Numerous variations within the scope of the appended claims will be apparent also to those skilled in the art.

I claim:

1. A boat trailer comprising an elongate frame; tilting cradle means on the rear portion of said frame comprising a pair of elongate boat support members one on each side of said frame, each of said members being pivotally supported intermediate its ends by said frame for free tilting through a limited arc about a cradle axis, said cradle axis being horizontal and transverse to said member and to said frame; a boat lift roller mounted proximate to said cradle axis between said boat support members for free rotation about an axis parallel to said cradle axis; means for raising and lowering said lift roller relative to said tilting cradle means; a boat support roller mounted on said frame forward of said cradle means; said frame having a depressed rear end; and a rear roller mounted on said depressed rear end, the upper surface of said rear roller being substantially below a plane tangent to the top of said boat support roller and the top of said boat lift roller in its highest raised position; whereby a boat may be supported for transportation by said elongate boat support member and said boat support roller, said boat may be lifted by said lift roller for movement rearwardly over said boat support members and off said trailer, said boat will tilt rearwardly downwardly when it has moved part way to the rear, said elongate boat support members will tilt with said boat about said transverse cradle axis but will prevent said boat from tilting dangerously to either lateral side, and said rear roller will help support said boat when it is being launched or recovered at steep angles.

2. A boat trailer for transporting a boat comprising: an elongate horizontally disposed frame supported by a transverse axle; tilting cradle means on the rear portion of said frame comprising a pair of elongate boat support members, one on each side of said frame and extending approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of said frame, each said member being pivotally supported intermediate its ends by said frame for limited rotation about a cradle axis, said cradle axis being horizontal and transverse to said member and to said frame; a boat lift roller between said boat support members, said lift roller being rotatably mounted between the outer ends of a pair of arms, the inner ends of said arms being fixed to a rotatable member supported by said frame, said rotatable member being rotatable about a lift axis parallel and proximate to said cradle axis; means for rotating said rotatable member to raise and lower said lift roller with respect to said tilting cradle means; a boat support roller rotatably mounted on said frame forward of said tilting cradle means for free rotation about an axis fixed with respect to said frame and parallel to said cradle axis; a depressed portion on said frame at the rear end thereof; and a rear roller mounted on said depressed portion for free rotation about an axis fixed with respect to said frame and parallel to said cradle axis, said rear roller being substantially below the level of said lift roller in the extreme raised position of the latter; said means for rotating said rotatable member comprising a lift arm fixed to said rotatable member, a lift bar pivotally connected at one end to said lift arm, and a lift lever pivotally connected to the other end of said lift bar, said lift lever being pivotally connected to said frame at a fulcrum point and having an operating arm for swinging said lift lever around said fulcrum point to raise and lower said lift roller; whereby a boat may be supported for transportation by said elongate boat support members and said boat support roller, said boat may be lifted by said lift roller for movement rearwardly over said boat support members and off said trailer, said boat will tilt rearwardly downwardly when it has moved part way to the r ar, said elongate boat support members will tilt with said boat about said transverse cradle axis but will prevent said boat from tilting dangerously to either lateral side, and said rear roller will help support said boat when it is being launched or recovered at steep angles.

3. A boat trailer in accordance with claim 2 having a standard extending upwardly from said frame adjacent the forward end thereof, a longitudinal tube fixed to said standard, a rod slidable in said tube, a nose chock fixed to the rear end of said rod for engaging the nose of a boat, and means for clamping said rod in selected position in said tube.

4. A boat trailer in accordance with claim 2 wherein said boat lift roller, said boat support roller, and said rear roller are spool-shaped, each having a central portion of smaller diameter than roller surfaces on each side thereof; whereby said rollers serve to center the keel of a boat on said boat trailer.

5. A boat trailer for transporting a boat, comprising: an elongate horizontally disposed frame supported by a transverse axle; tilting cradle means on the rear portion of said frame comprising a pair of elongate'boat support members, one on each side of said frame and extending approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis of said frame, each said member being pivotally supported intermediate its ends by said frame for limited rotation about a cradle axis, said cradle axis being horizontal and transverse to said member and to said frame; a boat lift roller between said boat support members, said lift roller being rotatably mounted between the outer ends of a pair of arms, the inner ends of said arms being fixed to a rotatable member supported by said frame, said rotatable member being rotatable about a lift axis parallel and proximate to said cradle axis; means for rotating said rotatable member to raise and lower said lift roller with respect to said tilting cradle means; a boat support roller rotatably mounted on said frame forward of said tilting cradle means for free rotation about an axis fixed with respect to said frame and parallel to said cradle axis; a standard extending upwardly from said frame adjacent the forward end thereof; a nose chock on said standard for abutting the nose of a boat supported by said trailer in carrying position; a winch on said standard for hauling in and easing out said boat; a depressed portion on said frame at the rear end thereof; and a rear roller mounted on said depressed portion for free rotation about an axis fixed with respect to said frame and parallel to said cradle axis, said rear roller being substantially below the level of saidlift roller in the extreme raised position of the latter; whereby a boat may be supported for transportation by said elongate boat support members, said boat support roller and said nose chock, said boat may be lifted by said lift roller for movement over said boat support: members rearwardly off said trailer, said boat will tilt stern downwardly when it has moved part way to the rear, said elongate boat support members will tilt with said boatabout said transverse cradle axis but will prevent said boat from tilting dangerously to either lateral side, and said rear roller will help support said boat when it is being launched or recovered at steep angles.

6. A boat trailer in accordance with claim having two of said boat support rollers longitudinally spaced on said frame forward of said cradle means, the one of said boat support rollers nearer. said cradle means being vertically adjustable, each of said boat lift roller, said boat support rollers, and said rear roller being spool-shaped with a central portion of smaller diameter than roller surfaces on each side thereof.

7. A boat trailer comprising an elongate frame; tilting cradle means on the rear portion of said frame comprising a pair of elongate boat support members one on each side of said frame, each of said members being pivotally supported intermediate its ends by said frame for limited rotation about a cradle axis, said cradle axis being horizontal and transverse to said members and to said frame; a boa-t lift roller mounted proximate to said cradle axis between said boat support members for free rotation about an axis parallel to said cradle axis; means for raising and lowering said lift roller relative to said tilting cradle means; a boat support roller mounted on said frame forward of said cradle means; said frame having a depressed rear end; and a rear roller mounted on said depressed rear end, theupper surface of said rear roller being substantially below a plane tangent to the top of said boat support roller and the top of said boat. lift roller in its highest raised position; at least one of said boat lift roller, said boat support roller, and said rear roller being spoolshaped with a central portion of smaller diameter than roller surfaces on each side thereof; whereby a boat may be supported for transportation by said elongate boat support members and said boat support roller, said heat may be lifted by said lift roller for movement rearwardly over said boat support members and off said trailer, said boat will tilt rearwardly downwardly when it has moved part way to the rear, said elongate boat support members will tilt with said boat about said transverse cradle axis but will prevent said boat from tilting dangerously to either lateral side, and said rear roller will help support said boat when it is being launched or recovered at steep angles.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 754,545 Davis Mar. 15, 1904 1,910,398 Ludington May 23, 1933 2,586,485 Schroeder Feb. 19, 1952 2,660,443 Miller Nov. 24, 1953 2,700,480 Triplett Jan. 25, 1955 2,708,045 Shontz May 10, 1955 2,723,038 Peterson et al Nov. 8, 1955 2,733,823 Evans Feb. 7, 1956 2,746,622 Roy May 22, 1956 2,765,941 Mamo Oct. 9, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 496,549 Great Britain Nov. 28, 1938 

